Sorter



J. T. FERRY June 27, 1944.

SORTER 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1942' ATTO R N EY J. "r, FERRY June 1944.

SORTER 4 vFiled May 14, 1942 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY BY )L4/11% ATTORNEY June 27, J. T FERRY v 2,352,258

.SORTER Filed May 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOHN T. ,FERRY l l www@ ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1944 -soaTEa y John T. Ferry, llion, NNY assignr'to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.,`a corporation of Delaware Application May 14, 1542,Y serial=` No.` 442,893 claims. (o1. 2094-1110)v This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in sorters of the type which are adapted tol sort perforated cards, and selectively deposit them into any one or more of a series of card-receiving pockets.

Briefly and generally considered, this invention concerns a sorter of the type in which there is an analyzing head provided with a row of sensing pins to sense a column on a perforated card. These pins are adapted to cooperate with means connected to and associated with a series of cardreceiving pockets, so that as the particular column is sensed by the pins, the cards are selectively deposited in this or that pocket in accordance with the perforated data. The novel feature of this invention concerns another set of pins on the analyzing head, which may be composed of one or more pins disposed to sense another column of perforations on the cards, and these auxiliary pins in the other column are associated cooperatively with means associated with a single pocket, so that any cards sensed with perforations in this extra column are deposited into this one pocket. In the practical working out of the invention, it may be said that it was developed in connection with the solving of a problem having to do with the sorting of cards for groups of banks in a system. There may be over three thousand branch banks in the groups and each one is given a number. Consequently, these numbers may run from one to over three thousand, but We will assume that they do not run over four thousand.

In a central bank, when it is necessary to sort a number of cards, each being perforated with the number of a branch bank, it is generally a fact that very few of the cards in any one batch have numbers with digits in the fourth denomination. 'It will be appreciated that having to make a separate run of the sorter to sort out these few cards would only add to the time required to sortthe whole batch. Therefore, this invention was developed which, while sensing cards in a regular column, also pre-sorts cards perforated in another column. Specifically this means that, while sorting cards regularly in the third denominational column, they are being sorted the fourth denominational column. The cards sensed in the third column are, as usual, selectively deposited in any of the pockets numbered from zero to nine, whereas the cards sensed or pre-sorted in the fourth denominational column are all deposited in a special pocket, such as the eleven pocket. This is made possible by the fact that all the pins in the fourth column are associated by a single means, such as a Bowden wire, with the usual timing cam of the eleventh pocket, so that the sensing of any number in this fourth column will deposit the card in this pocket.- Since the. cards in the fourth denominational order never exceed three in number, this eXtra row of auxiliary sensing -pins is disposed'opposite the one and three pins of the regular row of pins, but in the fourth column, so that whenever a perforation one, two, or three occurs in this fourth column, the elements cooperating with the pins therein will be operated. These elements are all associated with a single means such as a-Bowden wire connected to the eleven pockets, so that all cards thus sensed are deposited in the eleven pocket. It will, of course, be understood that the eleven pocket is one nearer the analyzing head than any of the pockets numbered zero to nine and, therefore, the depositing of such cards in this pocket will not interfere with the regular sorting of cards having numbers in they third column. By this means as much as 25% of sorting time is saved.

Sorters of the type of which this invention constitutes an improvement are illustrated in the following patents:

1,315,370 to William W. Lasker, issued September 9, 1919; 1,476,162 to William W. Lasker, issued December 4, 1923,' 2,044,120 to William W. Lasker, issued June 16, 1936.

The main object of the invention is to reduce the time vrequired to sort a given number of cards. i i A further object is vto provide a simple device and structure which can be adapted to use on the regular sorter apparatus, with a minimum .of alterations and structural changes required therein. l.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when, read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view in the vertical plane partlyin section and partly in elevation, with `certain portions broken away and showing the sorting machine as a Whole;

Fig. 2l is an, enlarged elevation partly in sec'- tion showing the upper and lower pin boxes in normal reracted position;

, Fig, 3 is a `cross section of the upper and lower pin boxes takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view partly in section of v theupper pin box;l v n v Fig, 5 is Aan enlarged partial plan view of the lower pin box; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged somewhat exploded schematic view of the pins. in the upperY and lower pin boxes. I

Referring to Fig. 1, the cards to be sorted are stacked and weighted in the magazine l0 and are fed one at a time from the bottom of the stack by a suitably located, power driven, harmonically operated picker to lthe first of a series of pairs of `power driven feed rolls. These feed rolls convey the card to the second pair 33, the ends of which are rigidly secured to the plates 32. The upper end of each of these pins is pivoted at an intermediate point on a lever 34, one end of which lever is mounted to rock on a horizontal shaft 35 carried by the said plates `32. Each lever 34 is provided at its free end with moving power driven upper sensing pin box A."

Shortly after the movement of the card is ara latch recess 36 adapted to take position under La transverse latch bar 31 mounted on a pivot bar rested by the card stop, the sensing .pins I4, of

which there are twelve, mounted in 'the .pin box, descend sufliciently to read the perforation (or perforations as the case may be) in the column to which the sensing pins I4 have been previously adjusted. Any sensing pin (or pins as the case may be) which passes through a perforation in the card is automatically locked so ias to be immovable with respect to the descending .pin box A, the continued descent of which will cause positive actuation of a pin I5, in the lower pin box B, which is secured to the core of -a corresponding Bowden wire I6 to position (through mechanism to be described more fully hereinafter) a trigger on a rotating disc II. The positioning of any trigger opens a card gate I8 corresponding to the perforation, or perforations, which have been sensed during the downward movement of the pin box.

When the upper pin box has traveled upwardly .a distance sufficient to withdraw the card stop from the front edge of the sensed card, the -feed rolls eject the card to a position where ity/ill .be engaged by the first of the pairs of transport 4rolls 20. The transport rolls carry the Ysensed card onward, usually at progressively decreasing speed, until it reaches the opened card gate I8 of the pocket or receptacle C which corresponds to the interpretation of the hole in the-punched card.

All of the foregoing description Vis well known and disclosed in the above mentioned patents.

In view of the fact that the invention resides in the addition of sensing pins in the upper pin box it will be described more in detail. As will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper pinY box is provided with a series of auxiliary pins 25 which are so positioned that they will sense 'the adjacent column, preferably of higher order. For example, if pins I4 are positioned over a column of perforations representing the third order column of a four digit num-ber, then the pins 25 will be disposedl over the column of perforations representing the fourth order of `said number. In the drawings two auxiliary pins are shown, but it is obvious that at least eleven pins could well be provided. As seen in Fig'. 6, the upper ends of the pins 25 are bent inward and laterally 'into alignment with the upper ends of the pins I4, so that they act inthe same manner and may be controlled by the same operating and disabling means later to be described.

Arranged over the plates I2 and I3 are transverse horizontal `bars 30, upon which are sli'dably mounted brackets or ears 3| carried on the front and rear walls 32 of a carrier, preferably in the form of a box, and containing analyzer or detector elements adapted to cooperate with the perforations in the plates I2 and I3, in .order to feel or detect any card perforation which may be in register with lany upper and lower aligning perforations in said plates. 1n thepresent embodiment the detector elements comprise a plurality cf pins I4 and 25 arranged in alignment .in a row transversely from front to rear of the pin box, and extending llengthwise of the machine .and slidably mounted lin openings in a guide bar 38 supported in the side plates 32, and to which is rigidly connected end arms 40, the free ends of which are connected by a bar 4I, the arrangement being such as to provide a bell-crank motion on the bar 38 as a fulcrum. The bar 3l is normally urged toward the ends of the levers 34 by means of a torsion spring surrounding the bar 38. Beneath the levers 34 is a transversely extending stop bar 42 connected to the end plates, and with which is adapted to cooperate feet on the lower edges of the levers 34, whereby the projecting movement of the pins I4 or 25 relative to the carrier or pin box is limited. Connected to each llever 34 is one end of a spring 43, the other end of which is connected to one arm of a bellcrank lever 411, which is pivoted on the extreme end of a `pin I4 or 25. The other arm 45 of the bell-crank lever extends upward and is provided on the side toward the bar 4I with a locking recess 46. The arrangement is such that when the pin box is moved toward the card holding plates, by means to be hereinafter described, certain of the pins will pass through periorations in the plates and registering perforations in the cardyand others will be arrested and held by the imperforated portions of the card. One or all of the pins which cannot pass through the card will be held stationary, resting on the imperforate card fsurface when the pin-box descends, which will result in the nose of the lever 34, attached to any such arrested pin being moved past the bar 3l and thus ride idly on the card. This movement, however, serves to rock the lever 46 counter-clockwise (Fig. 3), thereby rocking the bar 3l' over the locking recesses 36 on the levers 34, which are connected to the pins which have passed through perfor-ations in the card, so

that these pins are rigidly connected -to the pin box and move positively therewith in the movement of the latter toward the card. This rigid connection is for a purpose to be presently described.

T'he sensing pins I4 and 25 may be rendered inactive by grasping the lever 45 of each pin desired to be inactive and engaging its locking recess lil with the bar "4I, whereby any pin or pins attached to such levers will be held in a retracted or inactive position, and cannot cooperate with perforations in the card, vwhen the pin bexis-moved toward the card. By this arrangement any one or a plurality of the pins may be rendered inactive, and others permitted to remain active to perform the selecting'or detecting operation.

|The lower pin box- B comprises a frame 50 slidably mounted on transverse bars 48 and adapted to be moved in conjunction with the upper pin box. The frame 5! has 'ay pointed lip or ear 5I which is engaged by a latch member-52 mounted on the upper pin box. This latch member isiprovided with a latch portion not disclosed,` but described in -the above mentioned patents, which engages the .notches 53 in the .bar Safor locating the upper pin box in alignment with the holes in plates I2 and I3. When itis desired to position the sensing mechanism over a vdesired column the latch 521is depressed, thereby releasing the pin box for movement.

The lower end of the latch is provided with a notch 54 which engages the lip 5I on the lower pin box and thereby connects the two for joint movement.

Carried in the frame 50 is a plurality of pins l5, which are in alignment with the pins i4 in the upper pin box, and a T-shaped plate 55 which cooperates with pins 25. The pins l5 are connected by Bowden wires IE to their respective pockets zero to nine, and the plate 55 is connected to the eleven pocket by a similar Bowden wire. It is obvious from the above that any pin I4 or 25 which passes through a perforation will be carried down and will depress either a pin I5 or the plate 55 to actuate a trigger to open the selected pocket.

In taking up a practical problem, let us assume that it is desired to sense in the regular manner the third column of a four-digit number of a perforated card. In this case the upper pin box and with it the lower pin box will be moved to position the pins I4 over the third column of perforations representing the number on the card. In this position it will be at once apparent that the pins will also then be disposed over the fourth column of perforations for the same number. In the form shown, the auxiliary pins 25 will be disposed to sense the first, second, and third number perforations of such fourth column, so that if any card is sensed which has a one, two, or three in the fourth column, it will be deposited in the eleven pocket. In the sensing of any average batch of cards, as above described, the number of cards which will have perforations in the fourth order position will be relatively few, so that by sensing them at the same time that the third column is sensed, and depositing them in a special pocket, the time of sensing the entire group will be considerably reduced, on the average about 25%.

In summation, therefore, it will be seen that, while sensing perforations in one column of the card, and depositing cards so sensed into selected pockets, another column of the card is sensed, and any cards having perforations in this special auxiliary column will be deposited in a single pocket.

While there is above described but one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departure from the inventive concept above disclosed, and it is, therefore, desired that only such limitations shall be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the class described for sorting perforated cards and having an analyzing head and a series of card-receiving pockets, the combination of means on said head to Sense perforations in one column of said cards, means on the head to sense a predetermined number of perforations in the column of next higher order of said cards, Bowden wires associated with certain of said pockets and operated by the first mentioned sensing means to selectively deposit cards in said pockets in accordance with the perforations in said first column, and a Bowden wire associated with one pocket and operated by the second mentioned sensing means to deposit any cards containing perforations in said second column sensed by said sensing means in said pocket.

2. In a machine of the class described for sorting perforated cards and having an analyzing head and a series of card-receiving pockets, the combination of a row of pins on said head to sense one column of a card, a second row of pins on said head to sense a predetermined number of perforations in the column of next higher order of said card, Bowden wires associated with certain of said pockets and operated by the rst mentioned sensing means to selectivelydeposit cards in said pockets in accordance with the perforations in said first column, and a Bowden wire associated with one pocket and operated by the second mentioned sensing means to deposit any cards containing perforations in said second column sensed by said sensing means in said pocket.

3. In a machine of the class described for sorting perforated cards and having an adjustable reciprocatory analyzing head and a series of card-receiving pockets, the combination of a row of pins on said head to sense one column of a card, a predetermined number of pins on said head to sense certain positions in an adjacent co1- umn of next higher order on said card, Bowden wires associated with certain of said pockets and operated by the first mentioned row of pins to selectively deposit cards in said pockets in accordance with the perforations in said first column, and a Bowden wire associated with another pocket and operated by any one or more of the predetermined pins to deposit any cards containing perforations in said second column sensed by said last mentioned pins in said pocket.

4. In a machine of the class described for sorting perforated cards and having an analyzing head and a series of card-receiving pockets, the combination of a row of pins on said head to sense one column of a card, a predetermined number of pins on said head to sense the adjacent column of next higher order of the card, Bowden wires associated with certain of said pockets and operated by the rst mentioned row of pins to selectively deposit cards in said pockets in accordance with the perforations in said rst column, and a Bowden wire associated with a pocket disposed nearer the analyzing head than the other pockets and operated by any one or more of the predetermined number of pins to deposit any cards containing perforations in said second column sensed by said last mentioned pins in said last mentioned pocket.

5. In a machine of the class described for sorting perforated cards and having an analyzing head and a row of card-receiving pockets adjacent said head and representing numbers 12, 11, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in order from said head, a row of sensing pins on said head to sense the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 positions on a card in a column, auxiliary pins on said head disposed to sense the 1 and 3 positions of the card in the next higher order of column, a Bowden wire associated with the 1l pocket and operated by either of the auxiliary pins to deposit cards having perforations in the column of next higher order in said 1l pocket, and Bowden wires associated with the other pockets and operated selectively by the pins in the rst mentioned column to deposit the cards selectively in said other pockets.

JOHN T. FERRY 

